Jon Jones Hints at Potential RAF Debut After Student Gable Steveson’s Performance

Despite the chance of never competing again in the UFC, Jon Jones is open to competing elsewhere as RAF remains a viable option.

Jon Jones Hints at Potential RAF Debut After Student Gable Steveson’s Performance

Jon Jones hints at RAF debut after Gable Steveson (via Instaram)

Ever since Jon Jones‘ recent rift with the UFC and its top brass, the former two-division champion has mainly attended combat sports events as a spectator. However, he has also played a significant role in the MMA coaching and development of Olympic star Gable Steveson. Following Steveson’s win at RAF 09, Jones publicly revealed his own ambition to wrestle under the RAF banner moving forward.

Jones’ wrestling career began in New York, where he took up the sport in seventh grade. He later became a New York State Division I wrestling champion at Union-Endicott High School. He also competed in Greco-Roman wrestling and earned national-level recognition as a youth athlete. At Iowa Central Community College, Jones won an NJCAA national wrestling title and became an All-American.

At RAF 09, Gable Steveson delivered a dominant main-event performance against Alexander Romanov. He secured a technical fall victory in the second round through relentless wrestling control and takedown pressure in his promotional debut. After the fight, UFC legend Chael Sonnen invited Jon Jones onto the stage, which led directly to ‘Bones’ revealing his appreciation for RAF and his own wrestling ambitions.

Guys, I will say it’s so good to be back with the wrestling community. I love you guys, and I miss you guys. I would absolutely love to wrestle with you guys.

Jon Jones via RAF 09 post match interview

Jones began training Steveson after he transitioned into MMA. He focused on heavyweight control, cage pressure, and blending wrestling with striking. Under Jones’ guidance, Steveson has carried that style into competition, earning MMA wins at LFA 217 and APFC 21. He also scored a 15-second knockout over Billy Swanson at Dirty Boxing 4.

Jones has revealed he was dealing with arthritis, but still believes he can compete in MMA and wrestling. He stated the condition causes pain but does not fully limit his training or competitive ability. Jones also appeared on ALF Reality as a coach opposite arch-rival Daniel Cormier in a team-based format. During the episode, Cormier claimed Jones struggled to breathe after being hit in the chest with a football.

The UFC has been the long-time home of Jon Jones since his rise to superstardom as one of the sport’s greatest champions. However, his relationship with the promotion has become strained after UFC CEO Dana White moved forward with the White House card without him and later announced his retirement. A potential appearance under the RAF banner could create a major rivalry against the UFC’s dominance.

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Jon Jones believes that MVP MMA could rival the UFC in the future

The recent MVP MMA card delivered a major crossover moment in combat sports, headlined by Ronda Rousey’s victory over Gina Carano. The main event reportedly drew 17 million viewers on Netflix, marking one of the platform’s strongest combat sports broadcasts to date. The event also generated a live gate of $2.2 million at the Intuit Dome.

Jon Jones
Jon Jones wants to box after exiting his UFC contract [via MARCA]

The card featured a stacked lineup of former UFC fighters delivering entertaining performances across multiple bouts. Mike Perry enjoyed a dominant knockout win over Nate Diaz on the card. Jon Jones attended the event alongside UFC legend Anderson Silva, adding major star power to the crowd. His presence prompted post-event comments about the promotion’s growing influence.

I thought the MVP promotion was absolutely unbelievable; I think it was actually better than the UFC. I’ve never been at such a promotion where they had the fog machines and the TVs absolutely everywhere, great fighters. Half the audience came out to see (Nate) Diaz win. Both guys are my close personal friends, so it was bittersweet.

Jon Jones via Most Valuable Promotions

Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou also secured a knockout victory over Philipe Lins, strengthening his reputation as a heavyweight finisher. After the win, he pointed directly at Jon Jones, signaling interest in a potential showdown. Jones has also expressed interest in facing the Cameroonian heavyweight, fueling speculation around a cross-promotion heavyweight clash.

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